Sri Lanka · TOURS IN KANDY

Kandy Tours: The 15 Best Days in the Hill Capital

60 tours  ·  from $6 a head

The tooth relic draws the crowds at the evening puja, and everything else in Kandy is uphill from the lake. These 15 cover the temple, the Peradeniya gardens, the Ambuluwawa climb and the runs north to Sigiriya, priced and timed.

Kandy Private Guided City Tour by Tuk Tuk - Start with the route, not the checklist
City Tours, City Tours in Kandy, Guided, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy, Tuk Tuk Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours in Kandy

Kandy Private Guided City Tour by Tuk Tuk

1.Kandy Private Guided City Tour by Tuk Tuk

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,307 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $6Our pick

Explore Kandy by private tuk-tuk with guides such as Dinesh, Gayan, Dilan, Ranjan, or Sanjeewa. Shape the route around temples, viewpoints, tea, gardens, crafts, and herbal medicine. Hotel pickup, a live English-speaking guide, and several free-entry stops are included, while major sights such as the Temple of the Tooth and Botanical Garden cost extra.

“I had a great day with Dilan. He is knowledgeable and friendly. We visited lots of tourist attractions around Kandy and he explained Buddhist traditions to me.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure - Leaving Kandy by tuk-tuk at 7:45
Ancient Cities & Temples, Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya Tours in Kandy, Temple Tours in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kandy

From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure

2.Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 785 reviews · 10 hours · from $29

Ride from Kandy by tuk-tuk or car with an English-speaking guide such as Danushka, Mahesh, Wicky, or Saman. Visit Matale Hindu Temple, Sigiriya or Pidurangala, Dambulla Cave Temple, and a spice garden. Optional village, wildlife, gem, and craft stops let you shape the day.

“We booked the whole day trip to Sigiriya with Wicky as our driver who has been highly recommended by other customers before. He told us so much about Sri Lankan history and culture! Furthermore he let us freely choose which attractions on the way to Sigiriya we want to visit. All in all it was a wonderful day he is a good and safe driver and a really friendly and calm person.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy Village Cooking Class - Learning Sri Lankan curry from Shyama
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kandy

Kandy Village Cooking Class

3.Kandy Village Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · from $25Top rated

Start at Kandy Municipal Central Market, where Shyama guides you in choosing five vegetables, chicken or fish, spices, and other ingredients. Then travel to a village kitchen for a hands-on lesson, preparing several Sri Lankan dishes before sharing the meal. Pickup is offered, and groups can number up to 15.

“This was a fantastic experience, a beautiful setting, learning traditional methods to be guided in making a wide range of curries, the most delicious meal with lovely hosts. I would recommend to anyone”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy to Ella Train Tickets - Reserved Seats - Choosing Ella or Nanu Oya
Scenic Train Rides, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kandy

Kandy to Ella Train Tickets – Reserved Seats

4.Kandy to Ella Train Tickets – Reserved Seats

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 523 reviews · from $26

Take Sri Lanka’s famous blue train from Peradeniya near Kandy toward Ella or Nanu Oya, with a reserved second or third-class seat. Departures are listed at 8:47am and 11:03am. Tickets are commonly delivered to your accommodation before departure, and coordinator Geesara is noted for clear WhatsApp communication. Hotel pickup is optional, not included.

“Incredible views, make sure you reserve your seats. Best part of the trip is the last hour, although the whole trip was amazing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Kandy: Pinnawala Day Tour - The morning road from Kandy to Kadugannawa
Elephant Orphanages & Transit Homes, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

From Kandy: Pinnawala Day Tour

5.Pinnawala Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 331 reviews · 8 hours · from $15

Travel from Kandy to Pinnawala by tuk-tuk or air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking guide such as Danushka, Saman, Terence, or Channa. See elephants, temples, tea country, viewpoints, and city sights in one long day. You can often adjust the plan, skip stops, or add local breaks.

“It was a great experience. Danuska our tuktuk guide:driver was a great communicator, explained the stops, given us options where to stops. We recommend him”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy to Ambuluwawa & Kandy City Guided Tuk Tuk Day Tour - Tea country at New Giragama Tea Factory
Guided, Hill Country Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy, Tuk Tuk Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours in Kandy

Kandy to Ambuluwawa & Kandy City Guided Tuk Tuk Day Tour

6.Kandy to Ambuluwawa & Kandy City Guided Tuk Tuk Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 270 reviews · 8 hours - 1 day · from $12

Spend up to eight hours exploring Kandy by tuk tuk, car, or van with an English-speaking guide such as Chintha, Dhanu, Akila, or Malik. The route can include Ambuluwawa Tower, a tea factory, Peradeniya gardens, temples, craft workshops, a cultural dance show, and the Temple of the Tooth. You choose the pace and stops.

“Wonderful full day with Cintha! Only the best words for this amazing guide and basically a friend during the whole ride. We were brought to every chosen location quickly, safely and with some small talks, explanations along the way. Managed to visit most of the suggested places (from Polonnaruwa tower to Kandy), while remaining completely flexible with the plan, allowing us to finish the day in the best way possible. Strongly recommend :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy - The early road from Kandy to the cultural triangle
Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya Tours in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy

7.Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · from $25

Travel privately from Kandy to Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Matale with a driver-guide, bottled water, and hotel pickup. You’ll see the Lion Fortress, five-sanctuary cave temple, and Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil. Allow 10 to 12 hours, bring cash for entry fees, and confirm whether you want guiding inside each site.

“Beautiful views: the Lion Fortress is truly impressive, as are the Dambulla caves. Plus we had a really great driver: thank you, Mr.Silmi. The company was thoroughly professional and managed everything very well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour and Dambulla cave temple with private vehicle - Ranweli Spice Garden adds a hands-on pause
Ancient Cities & Temples, Dambulla Cave Temple, Private, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya Tours in Kandy, Temple Tours in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour and Dambulla cave temple with private vehicle

8.Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour and Dambulla cave temple with private vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 232 reviews · from $42

Travel from Kandy to Sigiriya in a private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup, bottled water, and an English-speaking driver. The route includes Matale’s Hindu temple, Ranweli Spice Garden, Sigiriya Rock, and Dambulla Cave Temple. Drivers such as Laliy, Dinesh, Fazeel, and Shashi are praised for flexibility, though site guides and entrance fees cost extra.

“Wonderful day, have seen so many places. Benedict is a safe and friendly driver. Great lunch stop. No complains.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy: Guided City Tour by Tuk-Tuk - What the flexible schedule really means
City Tours, City Tours in Kandy, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy, Tuk Tuk Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours in Kandy

Kandy: Guided City Tour by Tuk-Tuk

9.Guided City Tour by Tuk-Tuk

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $3Best value

See Kandy with a local English-speaking driver-guide in a tuk-tuk, with hotel pickup, a small group of up to three, and a flexible route. Stops can include the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanic Gardens, hilltop temples, tea and craft centers, herbal gardens, and a traditional dance show. Ask for guides such as Wasana, Vish, Andrew, or Ashan when booking.

“I did the tour with mister Wasana, he was amazing!!!! We visisted so many nice places and he know so much about the history. He was telling me everything and we even tried a street food. Thank you so much Mister Wasana!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy: Nuwara Eliya Day Trip - Ramboda Waterfall brings the first big view
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kandy

Kandy: Nuwara Eliya Day Trip

10.Nuwara Eliya Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 198 reviews · 10 hours · from $27

Travel from Kandy to cool, high-altitude Nuwara Eliya with an English-speaking guide such as Wicky, Danushka, Saman, Lali, or Tony. Expect tea country views, Ramboda Waterfall, a factory visit, temples, Gregory Lake, and flexible stops in a tuk-tuk or other private transport.

“Roshan was a great guide. He picked us up at our hotel and took us for a full day tour through tea plantations, spice gardens and temples. We had a great time and would recommend Roshan”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours - Climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress
1-Day Tours, Dambulla Cave Temple, Private, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya Tours in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours

11.Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews

Travel from Kandy in a private car with a driver-guide to Sigiriya and Dambulla. You may also add Pidurangala, Minneriya National Park, and Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil. Expect a long 10 to 12-hour day, extra entrance fees, and helpful drivers such as Irfan, Shamin, Fazeel, or Adil.

“This was a great day out, helped by a really knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide Mr. Irfan. The trip is a long day but there's lots to see and do, we left 8am and returned around 8pm so don't plan anything after. Mr Irfan talked about various as we drove past which was very interesting, and also offered a few extra stops with things to do, in addition to slowing down so we could take pictures. He seemed really proud to be able to show off the country. Although the driving may seem a bit crazy in Sri Lanka Mr Irfan was a good driver and kept us safe on the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tours and Transportation in Sri Lanka - Culture, nature, wildlife, and beach time
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

Tours and Transportation in Sri Lanka

12.Tours and Transportation in Sri Lanka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 188 reviews · from $55

Build a private Sri Lanka trip around your interests with Breath Sri Lanka Tours. Praboda helps shape routes, transport, attraction visits, and changes, while drivers such as Jagath can handle the road. The service suits trips from a single transfer to a multi-day journey, with pickup and bottled water included.

“We highly recommend breath Sri Lanka tours. Praboda from their team arranged several transfers between different locations and a safari for us – everything was smooth, punctual, and very reliable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Kandy City Explore Tour Morning/Evenening Private Tour - Starting at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy

Kandy City Explore Tour Morning/Evenening Private Tour

13.Kandy City Explore Tour Morning/Evenening Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 186 reviews · 5 hours · from $7

Spend five flexible hours exploring Kandy by tuk-tuk with an English or Sinhala-speaking driver. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, viewpoints, temples, gardens, tea and craft workshops, choosing at least five stops. Guides such as Wicky, Channa, Danushka, Tony, and Rasi are praised for adapting routes to guest interests.

“Was so amazing! We did at lest 6 different stops in one day. Channa my guide was super nice and knowledgeable, made my experience that much better!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Colombo: Kandy Full-Day Trip - Breakfast and the long road toward Pinnawala
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours in Kandy

From Colombo: Kandy Full-Day Trip

14.Kandy Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 169 reviews · 12 - 14 hours · from $50

Leave Colombo around 6:00 am for Pinnawala, Kandy, and the hills beyond. You’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kandy Lake, a viewpoint, and Geragama Tea Factory. English, Sinhala, and Tamil-speaking guides such as Chathu, Krish, and Dhanesh lead the day. Expect a shared ride, extra entrance fees, and a late return.

“Fantastic trip with Ranga! I was alone and had a car all to myself and Ranga was super accommodating. I opted to skip the elephant sanctuary as they've been labeled not to be the most ethical. The royal botanical gardens are a MUST with gorgeous floral of all kinds. If you're lucky you'll get to see the bats hanging peacefully. Super informative trip with lots to see and highly recommend! Thank you Ranga for the great company!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Kandy: Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour - Key points to know before booking
Guided, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sigiriya Tours in Kandy, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Kandy, Tuk Tuk Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours in Kandy

From Kandy: Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

15.Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 166 reviews · 10 hours · from $25

Leave Kandy early with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Mangala, Sanjeewa, or Ranjan. Ride by tuk-tuk to Matale, Dambulla, and Sigiriya, choosing Lion Rock or cheaper Pidurangala. Add a village safari or Minneriya wildlife safari for an extra charge. The day is flexible, but long and active.

“We had a fantastic day from early morning to late evening. Sigiriya and the other stops exceeded our expectations but the highlight of the day was our guide Mangala. He went far and beyond to make our day perfect! Interesting facts, short extra stops and many laughs during a long day in his Tuk Tuk.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Tours in Kandy

★ 4.9Authentic Sri Lankan Cooking Class in Kandy by Local Family15 reviews
★ 5.0Ambuluwawa Tower & Pinnawala & Kandy Day Tour From NegomboFrom $694 reviews
★ 5.0Ambuluwawa Tower & Pinnawala & Kandy Day Tour From ColomboFrom $805 reviews
★ 5.0Ambuluwawa Tour : From Kandy with Tea Factory VisitFrom $1016 reviews
★ 4.38-Day Sri Lanka Private Round Tour Hotels, Meals, Car, GuideFrom $6396 reviews
★ 5.0Private Kandy City Tour: Temple of the Tooth & Lake HighlightsFrom $627 reviews
★ 5.01 Hour Private White Water Rafting in Kitulgala From Kandy with Hotel PickupFrom $12015 reviews
★ 4.1Sigiriya Fortress & Cave Temple Full Day Private TourFrom $7529 reviews
★ 5.0All Inclusive Knuckles Day Track With AccommodationFrom $12047 reviews
★ 5.0Srilankan Cooking class by FFL kandyFrom $2050 reviews
★ 4.5Scenic Road Trip to Ella from Kandy (Group)From $2648 reviews
★ 5.0Kandy Sigiriya Day Trip by tuk,tuk/car/vanFrom $3555 reviews
★ 5.0I Day Kandy Heritage Culture Tour53 reviews
★ 5.0Explore Kandy Full Day Tuk Tuk City TourFrom $1047 reviews
★ 4.9From Kandy To Nuwara Eliya Drop Tour – Private TourFrom $2551 reviews

Keep browsing

National Park Safaris135Sigiriya Rock Fortress56Tuk Tuk Tours39Cooking Classes27Scenic Train Rides9City Tours42
Scroll to Top

Explore Sri Lanka

Pick a park, a ruin, a hillside or a kitchen.

Parks and wildlife

Park SafarisYalaUdawalaweMinneriyaElephant Homes

The Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya RockDambulla CavesAncient CitiesAnuradhapuraDambulla

Hills and tea

Hill CountryTea EstatesTrain RidesWaterfallsHikes and Climbs

Coast and water

Whale BoatsRiver SafarisSnorkellingSurfingGalle Fort